Medical device

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a medical device provided with an outer part or shell and an inner functional part which inner functional part comprises a combination of units. The functional combination of units normally constitutes a device comprising a part being able to penetrate the skin of a patient i.e. a subcutaneous part such as a cannula, a sensor, an insertion needle or the like.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/054910, filed Mar. 30, 2011, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 10158465.4, filed Mar. 30, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/318,922, filed Mar. 30, 2010, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a medical device provided with an outer part or shell and an inner functional part which inner functional part comprises a combination of units. The functional combination of units normally constitutes a device comprising a part being able to penetrate the skin of a patient i.e. a subcutaneous part such as a cannula, a sensor, an insertion needle or the like. Examples of such medical devices are inserter devices and infusion devices where each device comprises an outer part and an inner functional part according to claim 1.

BACKGROUND

A lot of different medical devices are provided with a relatively hard outer shell and normally the shell is intended to protect or cover a functional part hidden inside the shell. A group of these medical devices are provided with a subcutaneous part where the outer shell during use somehow protects an insertion site e.g. during and/or after insertion of a subcutaneous part. “Protection” might e.g. imply that:

-   -   the user or the patient is not able to see the insertion needle         and/or the insertion site before, during and/or after insertion;     -   the outer shell protects a subcutaneously positioned part from         being moved and/or displaced by forces from the surrounding         environment; and/or     -   the sterility of the subcutaneous part is not compromised         before, during or after insertion.

Such medical devices are e.g. known from WO 2006/062680 which document discloses an infusion set for subcutaneous delivery of an infusant. The infusion set (10) may include a base (14) removably attachable to an infusion site and a connector (12) temporarily lockable to the base (14). The connector (12) can engage the base (14) in a plurality of orientations. The connector (12) locks into the base (14) after at least partial rotation of the connector (12) about the base (14). The connector (12) may include flexible arms (16) which unlock the connector (12) from the base (14). The base (14) includes a cannula for insertion through the infusion site. The connector (12) includes tubing for passing the infusant. The infusant is subcutaneously passable from the tubing through the cannula when the connector (12) is attached to the base (14). According to this disclosure, radial locking—i.e. the features that prevents rotation of the connector relative to the base after mounting of the connector—is provided by the same parts providing the axial locking, i.e. the features that prevents the connector from being removed in a direction perpendicular to the skin surface on which it is mounted during use. According to WO 2006/062680 the radial locking means (42, 44) of the connector also provide axial locking of the connector relative to the base part as the connector is rotated into a locked position.

WO 2004/026375 discloses a catheter head with catheter drain in discrete rotational positions. The catheter head is used for introducing a fluid into an organic tissue and comprises a cannula housing (1) with a cannula (3), a connector element (2) with a fluid inlet (7), a guide and a fixing device. The guide device has several selectable discrete rotational positions for positioning the connector element relative to the cannula housing about a longitudinal axis (L) of the cannula. The connector element is positioned in a rotational position and is detachably connected to the cannula housing in the selected position by means of the fixing device.

WO 2008/065646 (Medingo Ltd) discloses an inserter device for inserting a fluid delivery device subcutaneously in order to deliver a therapeutic fluid to a patient. The inserter configuration includes automatic insertion and retraction capabilities where a trigger button (330) actuates a set of springs which fire a penetrating cartridge (150) downward into the body of the patient and retract the penetrating member after insertion. Further, the inserter includes safety mechanisms for preventing misplacement and inadvertent misfiring. According to the present application it is not necessary to provide an inserter device with complex means preventing misfiring as the spring causing insertion is not biased or loaded before insertion is intended. Actually, the user bias or loads the insertion spring just before insertion takes place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The medical device according to the present application has a smooth outer surface and it is easy for the user to get a firm hold on the device and activate it. Activation points are placed on the outer part or shell and the activation points will normally be distinctly marked with colours or raised points or indentations. That the device has a “smooth” surface means that the surface facing the surroundings does not e.g. have any openings but appears continuous.

A medical device according to the present application comprises an outer part and an inner part which outer part provides a functional cover and which inner part comprises one or more units being protected by the functional cover during use, the outer part comprises one or more activation points on the outer surface and the activation points are connected to contact surfaces of the inner part in such a way that pressure on the activation points initiates a function of the inner part. The activation point is positioned on a section of an outer shell of the outer part constituted by a hard material and a second section of the outer shell of the outer part is constituted by a hard material and between these two portions of hard material, the outer shell comprises a third section constituted by a soft and flexible material.

According to one or more embodiments the outer part constitute a housing, which housing provides a rounded and continuous surface without any openings providing access to the inner functional parts, and where the housing has two opposite side parts or “arms” and comprises two wedges of softer material.

According to one or more embodiments the outer part comprises at least two pressure points positioned at opposite positions on the outer shell and therefore the shell comprises at least two separated sections of soft material.

According to one or more embodiments the sections of hard material is constituted of ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).

According to one or more embodiments the sections of soft material is constituted of TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer).

According to one or more embodiments the hard material constitutes a web or skeleton and the soft material is placed between a central part of hard material and a side part of hard material which side part is provided with activation points.

According to this embodiment the housing can comprise two opposite side parts or “arms” and therefore comprises two wedges of softer material.

According to one or more embodiments the medical device is an inserter device and the outer part constitutes a housing at least partly covering the inner functional part which further comprises a cover which is slidably attached to the housing and has at least one retracted and one forward position relative to the housing. According to these one or more embodiments, the inserter device can comprise a first spring and a second spring. The first spring can be releasably attached to the upper end of the cover which is slidably attached to the housing at a first end and at the second end it is indirectly connected to the housing in such a way that the second end of the first spring can be displaced by rotating the housing relative to the cover. The first spring can comprise at least one elastically mounted arm which arm at the upper end, i.e. the distal end compared to the patients skin during insertion, is provided with an outward hook securing the arm to the cover by catching around and upper edge of the cover.

According to one or more embodiments the medical device is an inserter device and the inner part comprises a first part and a second part, which first part is slidably attached to the second part and has at least one retracted and one forward position relative to the second part.

According to one or more embodiments, the inserter device comprises a first spring and a second spring. According to these one or more embodiments, the inner part further comprises an inner lid, and the first spring rest against a surface of the inner lid at a first end and at the second end the first spring rests against a surface of the second part in such a way that the first spring is in a loaded position when the first part is in the retracted position and in an unloaded position when the first part is in the forward position.

According to one or more embodiments the first spring can be displaced from the loaded position to the unloaded position by pressing the activation point towards each other.

According to one or more embodiments, the inner part further comprises a third part, which third part is slidably attached to the second part and has at least one retracted and one forward position relative to the second part. According to these one or more embodiments, the second spring rest against a surface of the third part at a first end and at the second end the first spring rests against a surface of the second part in such a way that the second spring is in a loaded position when the third part is in the forward position and in an unloaded position when the third part is in the retracted position. The second spring is automatically displaced from the loaded position to the unloaded position subsequent to the displacement of the first spring prompt by pressing the activation point towards each other.

According to one or more embodiments an inclined surface of the housing through contact with a surface of the first spring or of a part in a fixed connection with the first spring forces the second end of the first spring away from upper end of the cover.

According to one or more embodiments the first spring can be releasably attached to the upper end of the cover at a first end and at the second end it is indirectly connected to the housing in such a way that the second end of the first spring can be displaced by pressing the housing and the cover towards each other along the longitudinal axis of the two parts. The first spring can at the upper end be provided with an outward hook securing the upper end of the first spring to the cover by catching around and upper edge of the cover. According to these embodiments a central part of the housing through contact with a surface of the second end of the first spring or of a part in a fixed connection with the second end of the first spring forces the second end of the first spring away from upper end of the cover.

According to one or more embodiments the medical device is an infusion device and the outer part constitute the outer shell of a connector part and the inner part constitutes an infusion part comprising a subcutaneously positioned cannula and/or sensor during use.

According to embodiments related to infusion devices or similar devices to be left on a patients skin the outer part fully covers the site when mounted on the site. That the site is fully covered means that when the site is mounted on a patients skin and the connector part is attached to the site, then it is not possible to see any part of the site from above i.e. from a view perpendicular to the patients skin.

According to one or more embodiments the outer surface of the outer part is constituted by a single flexible material and a structure of hard material is connected to the inner surface i.e. the surface facing the site i.e. the hard material is hidden behind/below the outer flexible material.

According to one or more embodiments the outer surface of the outer part is constituted by one or more areas of flexible material combined with one or more areas of hard material i.e. both the soft and the hard material forms part of the outer and the inner surface of the cover.

According to one or more embodiments, the actuator means is connected to or being a part of the outer part or cover.

According to one or more embodiments the site has a surface directly or indirectly attached to the skin of the patient during use and this surface comprises at least two separated parts where the first part is connected to the subcutaneous part during use and secure this part to the patients skin and the second part is surrounding the first part and secures the vertical positioning means of the site to the skin of the patient. The separation or flexible connection between the first and the second part prevents movements from the second part from being transferred to the first part holding the subcutaneous part.

According to one or more embodiments the first part is connected to the second part via two or more strings of e.g. hard material.

According to one or more embodiments the horizontal positioning parts comprise one or more protruding parts placed along a straight line passing through the centre of the connector and the actuating means are placed on one or both sides of the straight line. E.g. the connector part has one or two horizontal positioning parts and at least one of the horizontal positioning part(s) is/are placed at the periphery of the connector part.

According to one or more embodiments the positioning means of the site comprise at least two openings where at least one opening correspond(s) to a protruding part on the connector part when the connector part is placed in a use position. E.g. the positioning means of the site comprise at least two openings where two or more openings correspond to two or more protruding part on the connector part when the connector part is placed in a use position.

According to one or more embodiments the positioning means of the site comprise two to ten openings corresponding to two to ten protruding parts on the connector part when the connector part is placed in a use position.

According to one or more embodiment the site has a subcutaneous part when positioned on the patients skin or has means for attaching a subcutaneous part after positioning the site on the patients skin.

According to one or more embodiment the attachment means of the site comprises an increase or a decrease in a cross-sectional dimension providing an inward or outward step in a vertical profile. E.g. the attachment means comprise an outward rim at an outer vertical surface or an inward rim at an inner vertical surface.

According to one or more embodiments the means for attachment of the connector part comprises actuation means in the form of at least one arm placed along the outer edge of the connector part which arm is fastened to the connector part at one end and can be pivoted around this fastening point, the arm is provided with retaining means configured to prevent vertical movements of the connector part relative to the site.

According to one or more embodiments the means for attachment of the connector part comprises actuation means in the form of two oppositely positioned arms which arms each are pivotally attached at one end and each arm is provided with retaining means and the distance between the retaining means on each arm can be varied due to the pivotal movement of the two arms.

According to one or more embodiments the connector part comprises a connector needle in the form of a tubular element to be inserted through a septum of the site. According to this embodiment the connector part can be provided with guiding means adapted to guide the tubular element through a penetratable part of the site in a vertical direction.

According to one or more embodiments the device comprises a leakage indication system comprising leakage indication means adapted to provide a colour change upon leakage of a fluid, the indication means being provided on a surface of the site near the insertion site, and being visible i.e. inspectable upon use. The leakage indication system can comprise a reference marker indicating the visual change to be expected upon leakage.

According to one or more embodiments the device comprises a subcutaneous part comprising a coloured or contrast-enhanced cannula, and the site comprises a transparent area arranged near the insertion site, said transparent area being adapted to allow visible detection of misplacement of the cannula during use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of embodiments of the current invention will be made with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts in different figures.

FIG. 1 shows a cut-through view along line A-A of an embodiment of an inserter device (small upper figure shows where the cut is made).

FIG. 2 shows a cut-through view along line B-B of the same embodiment of an inserter device as FIG. 1 but the cut-through view is from an angle perpendicular to the angle shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A shows an enlargement of the encircled part marked “C” of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows an enlargement of an embodiment of an insertion part.

FIG. 4 shows an enlargement of an embodiment of a release part.

FIG. 5 shows a cut-through view along line A-A of the same embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a state where it has been activated and a subcutaneous part has been subcutaneously inserted while the introducer needle has not yet been retracted.

FIG. 6 shows a cut-through view along line A-A of the same embodiment as shown in FIG. 1-5 in a state where a subcutaneous part has been inserted and the introducer needle has been fully retracted.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an internal base which can be used with the embodiments of the inserter device shown in FIG. 1-6.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a base in the form of a port site which can be used with the embodiment of the inserter device shown in FIG. 1-6.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of an inserter device which inserter device functions in the same way as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-6 but it is directed to the insertion of another kind of medical device.

FIG. 10 shows the inserter device in a before-use-state where a tamperproof band has not yet been removed, in a state where the tamperproof band has been removed and the device is ready to be used, and in a state where a lid has been removed and the inserter is ready to be placed against the skin of the patient.

FIG. 11 show an embodiment of an infusion site which can be positioned with the inserter of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of all the parts of the embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of the inserter device in a shelf state i.e. an unloaded and sterile state where the primary spring is constituted by a single circular elastic band.

FIG. 14 shows the inserter device of FIG. 13 in a side view in a pre-loaded state.

FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show cut-through views of the inserter device in the preloaded state of FIG. 14; FIG. 15 shows a cut-through view along the line H-H of FIG. 14 and FIG. 16 shows a cut-through view along the line Q-Q in FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 shows the embodiment of the inserter device in a loaded state where the primary spring is as extended as it will be during operation of the inserter device and the insertion needle is fully inserted.

FIG. 18 shows a cut-through view along the line O-O where the embodiment of the inserter device is in a final unloaded state.

FIG. 19 shows a possible position of a primary spring in the form of an elastic band such as a rubber band used with the embodiment of the inserter device.

FIG. 20 shows a medical device comprising a subcutaneous part and an infusion site.

FIGS. 21A-E show a fourth embodiment of a medial device comprising a site in the form of an infusion site which can be combined with a subcutaneous part.

FIG. 22A-E show an embodiment of a connector part that can be used together with the sites of FIGS. 21A-E.

FIG. 23A-E show an embodiment of a connector part that can be used together with the sites of FIGS. 21A-E.

FIG. 24A-B respectively shows a cut-through view through the centre and a side view of an embodiment of a subcutaneous part in the form of a cannula part which can be used together with any of the sites illustrated in the figures.

FIG. 25A shows a side view of a connector needle, and FIG. 25B shows a cut-through view of a site on which a connector part as shown in FIGS. 22A-E is mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a medical device being an inserter device. The embodiment of the inserter device has automatic insertion and automatic retraction of an introducer needle 47 and is used for placing a base part 44 combined with a subcutaneous part 43 subcutaneously in a patient. The embodiment comprises an outer part which comprises a housing 1 constituted by sections of a soft material 1 a and sections of a hard material 1 b. The housing 1 also comprises position indicators 56 for activation and protruding parts 55 situated on the inner surface of the housing 1. The inner functional part of the inserter device comprises:

-   -   an inner lid 45 provided with a plastic spring 62 and an elastic         unit 63 (seen more clearly in FIG. 2A);     -   a retraction part 46 provided with inward hooks 54;     -   an introducer needle 47 attached to the retraction part 46;     -   a retraction spring 48 placed between the retraction part 46 and         an insertion part 50 (see also FIG. 3), wherein the insertion         part 50 is provided with downward facing contact surfaces 59,         grooves 60 in the outer surfaces and means 61 for releasing the         subcutaneous part 43;     -   an insertion spring 49 placed between the inner lid 45 and the         insertion part 50;     -   a release part 51 (see also FIG. 4) provided with push positions         57 and protruding parts 58; and     -   an internal base 52 to which the base 44 is attached before and         during insertion of the subcutaneous part 43.

Before use the device is provided with a lid 12 and a tamperproof band 53. All of the pieces are normally made of moulded plastic except e.g. the insertion needle 47 which might be made of metal.

When the user has prepared the inserter device for insertion by removing the lid 12, the user places the device against the skin of the patient whether this might be the user himself or a second person. According to the shown embodiment the base 44 is placed in a position at the proximal end of the internal base 52 and does not form an integral part with the subcutaneously part 43. Normally the base 44 has an adhesive surface, which can be exposed by removing the lid 12. The adhesive surface is used to attach the base 44 releasably to the patients skin. The adhesive surface could be exposed automatically upon removal of the lid 12 or it could be exposed manually e.g. by removing a release paper from the adhesive surface before use. When the adhesive surface is exposed the end of the inserter device comprising the base 44 is pushed against the skin of the patient, and then the trigger is activated. The trigger according to the shown embodiment is activated by pressing two opposite flexible points at the top end of the housing 1.

In more detail, FIG. 1 shows a cut-through view along line A-A of an embodiment of an inserter device (small upper figure shows where the cut is made). The inserter device is used for insertion of a subcutaneous part 43 into a base which subcutaneous part 43 in FIG. 1 is illustrated as a cannula part and which base 44 in FIG. 1 is illustrated as a port site i.e. a site which can be used for injecting portions of medication over a period of normally up to 3 days. The device is shown in a pre-use state.

Before use, the housing 1 is closed with a lid 12 and a tamperproof band 53 is placed along the separation line between the housing 1 and the lid 12. The tamperproof band 53 can be penetrated by sterilizing gas and is placed around the device before sterilization. An intact tamperproof band 53 thus ensures that the housing 1 has not been separated from the lid 12 after sterilization of the device, i.e. correct placement of the tamperproof band 53 indicates to the user that the disposable inserter device is sterile and ready for use.

The inserter device comprises an inner lid 45, a retraction part 46 to which an introducer needle 47 is attached unreleasably, a retraction spring 48, an insertion spring 49, an insertion part 50, a release part 51 and an internal base 52.

The internal base 52 provides the skeleton for the inserter device and all other parts are connected to the internal base 52. The inner lid 45 is locked to the internal base 52 and therefore these two parts are stationary relative to each other through all actions of the inserter device. One end of the insertion spring 49—the upper end—rests against a surface of the inner lid 45. The opposite second end of the insertion spring 49—the lower end—rests against an upward facing surface of the insertion part 50. Before insertion of the subcutaneous part 43, the insertion part 50 is placed at the upper half i.e. at the closed end of the inner lid 45 and the insertion spring 49 is loaded. Normally, the insertion device is brought to this step during the manufacturing procedure. A downward facing surface of the insertion part 50 rests against one or more upward facing surfaces of the release part 51, this contact prevents the insertion part 50 from being pushed downwards by the insertion spring 49 before activating the device. The release part 51 is also stationary relative to the internal base 52, at least the release part 51 does not move relative to the internal base 52 along the direction of insertion.

Before use the base 44 is attached to the internal base 52 and the internal base 52 is therefore provided with a corresponding position for receiving such a base 44. The lower surface of the base 44 i.e. the surface facing the patient when the base 44 is attached to a patients skin, is attached unreleasably to an adhesive e.g. the base 44 is welded to a patch provided with an adhesive lower side. The adhesive surface will normally be covered by a release paper or another protective cover protecting the adhesive surface and ensuring that the adhesive surface is as adhesive as intended by the manufacturer. The release paper might be attached to the lid 12; this will cause the release paper to be removed simultaneously with the lid 12 thereby saving the user a step during the positioning procedure.

In FIG. 1 the subcutaneous part 43 is attached to the retraction part 46. The subcutaneous part 43 is positioned on the insertion needle 47 and is kept in position due to the friction between the insertion needle 47 and the soft contact parts of the subcutaneous part 43 such as a cannula, respectively.

The retraction part 46 is at this state attached to the insertion part 50 by two or more inward hooks 54 at the lower end of the retraction part 46. As the retraction spring 48 pushes the retraction part 46 upward i.e. opposite the direction of insertion, the inward hooks 54 lock the retraction part 46 to the insertion part 50 as the inward hooks 54 prevent the retraction part 46 from moving in the direction opposite the direction of insertion.

The embodiment in FIG. 1 is provided with a safety function preventing unintended activation of the insertion device. When the lid 12 is in the shown closed position, the housing 1 cannot move relative to the internal base 52. In order to be able to activate the insertion device it will be necessary to push the housing down until inner activation means having the form of two oppositely positioned protruding parts 55 attached to or being part of the inner surface of the housing are placed opposite flexible parts of the release part 51. In the state shown in FIG. 1 it is not possible to activate the insertion as the protruding parts 55 is not correctly positioned opposite the release part 51, arrows indicate how the protruding parts are moved during activation. A spring 62 is normally placed between an upper part of the inner lid 45 and an inner surface of the housing 1 to keep the housing 1 pushed away from the top of the inner lid 45, this will necessitate an action from the user when the device is to be activated namely pushing the housing 1 towards the inner lid 45 which will force the user to push the housing 1 in direction of the patients skin just before insertion is activated. This is an easy performed and a natural thing to do for the user, especially if the user is the patient him/her self.

The lower wall of the internal base 52 provides an almost complete cover for the parts hidden inside the housing 1. The lower wall of the internal base 52 is only provided with a central opening where through the subcutaneous part 43 can pass when inserted. Also, the lower wall of the internal base 52 can have e.g. smaller openings where through attachment means might protrude. The openings in the lower wall of the internal base 52 is so small that it will not be possible to put a finger through the opening an e.g. get in contact with the used introducer needle 47.

The outer shell of the embodiment of the housing 1 shown in FIG. 14 provides a rounded and continuous surface without any openings providing access to the inner functional parts and is a composite of one or more materials as sections of a hard material is combined with one or more sections of a soft and/or elastic material. That the material is “soft and/or elastic” means that it is more flexible and/or elastic than the hard material and that it is possible to reduce a dimension of the material due to pressure provided by the user.

The sections of soft material are referred to as la and the sections of hard material are referred to as 1 b. According to one embodiment the sections of hard material can be constituted of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and the sections of soft material can be constituted of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) where the ABS part provides as a hard shell or skeleton including, e.g. the protruding parts 55, on the inner side surface of the housing 1 and knobs, i.e. positioning indicators 56, on the outer surface of the housing 1. According to the embodiment the softer material is covering the gap that makes it possible to push the activation means together. According to the present embodiment a wedge of soft material is placed between a central part of hard material and a side part of hard material which side part is provided with position indicators 56 for activation. The shown embodiment has two opposite side parts or “arms” and therefore comprises two wedges of softer material. When the user squeezes the two “arms” together or alternatively squeezes one arm towards the hard central part, the section constituting the softer material of the wedges is reduced in width, i.e. either by folding or by pressing.

The lid 12 will normally be made of a hard non-flexible material.

The shown embodiment is very easy to handle, although the user has not been introduced to the functioning of the device it will be almost impossible to do anything wrong. Also, there is no risk of getting in contact with the introducer needle after positioning of the subcutaneous device, since the introducer needle 47 is brought into a retracted position inside the housing 1. The patient will not be able to see the introducer needle 47 or touch it. As the insertion springs 49 is unloaded after insertion of the subcutaneous part 43 there will be no risk of repeating the injection procedure.

FIG. 2 shows a cut-through view along line B-B of the same embodiment of an inserter device as FIG. 1. However, the cut-through view is from an angle perpendicular to the angle shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A shows an enlargement of the encircled part marked “C” of FIG. 2.

From the cut-through view along line B-B, it is possible to see that the internal base 52 rests against upward surfaces formed from the inner surfaces of the housing 1 and this contact assures that the internal base 52 is locked relative to the housing 1, or more precisely, the housing 1 can move from a resting position in the direction of insertion relative to the internal base 52 and return to the resting position, but the housing 1 can not be moved from the resting position in a direction opposite of insertion or in any other direction. The resting position is a position where the housing 1 is stationary when not influenced by a force coming from outside the inserter device.

Also, it is possible to see a plastic spring 62 placed between the outer surface of the inner lid 45 and the inner surface of the housing 1. This plastic spring 62 provides a back pressure when the housing 1 is pressed towards the internal base 52 and ensures that the housing 1 is kept in place. The plastic spring 62 is according to this embodiment a flat spring made of same material as the inner lid 45, the plastic spring 62 can be a part of the inner lid 45.

The inserter device is further provided with an elastic unit 63 between the inner lid 45 and the retraction part 46 which elastic unit 63 reduces sound when the retraction takes place. In the shown embodiment the elastic unit 63 has the form of a flat spring attached to the inner lid 45 at one end and touching the retraction part 46 with the other end when the retraction part 46 is forced towards the inner lid 45 by the retraction spring 48. The elastic unit 63 might also be a part of the inner lid 45 and therefore made of same material.

FIG. 5 shows a cut-through view along line A-A of the same embodiment of the inserter device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cut-through view along line A-A in FIG. 5 is from the same angle as the cut-through view in FIG. 1, however the device is in here shown in a state where it has been activated, thus the subcutaneous part 43 has been subcutaneously inserted but the introducer needle 47 has not yet been retracted. FIG. 3 shows an enlargement of an embodiment of an insertion part 50 and FIG. 4 shows an enlargement of an embodiment of a release part 51.

At the state displayed in FIG. 5, the insertion spring 49 has been released. The inserter device was brought into this activated state by a user by first removing the lid 12, then releasing the safety feature by pressing on top of the housing 1 as indicated by the arrow P1, and subsequently placing the open end of the inserter device against the patient's skin. At this position an adhesive surface of the base 44 is normally attached to the patient's skin. When the housing 1 is pushed down in the direction of the arrow P1, i.e. in the insertion direction, the housing 1 will move forward relative to the internal base 52 until it meets a stop. When the housing 1 cannot move further forward/down, the protruding parts 55 of the housing are positioned opposite elastic parts of the release part 51.

In a state where the release part 51 is not influenced by external forces, the release part 51 is a circular or oval elastic ring having at least one push position 57. In the shown embodiment see more clearly in FIG. 4, the release part 51 has two push positions 57. When activating the release part 51, the release part 51 is forced into another shape, i.e. an oval shape, as the protruding parts 55 of the housing 1 is pressed towards the push positions 57 of the release part 51. When activated the release part 51 looses it grip in the insertion part 50 as the release part 51 is extended in one direction which results in that the dimension of the release part 51 is reduced in another direction. The insertion part 50 rests on, i.e. is in contact with, the inward protruding parts 58 of the release part 51. The down-ward facing surfaces of the insertion part 50 which are in contact with upward surfaces of the protruding parts 58 before activation of the insertion device is indicated by ref. no. 59 in FIG. 3.

The insertion part 50 is provided with grooves 60 in the outer surface and the protruding parts 58 of the release part 51 can move in or slide along the surface of these grooves 60 so that the contact between the protruding parts 58 and the outer surface of the insertion part 50 does not prevent the movement of the insertion part 50 in the direction of insertion.

Also, the insertion part 50 is provided with means 61 for releasing the subcutaneous part 43 from the insertion part 50. These means 61 for releasing the subcutaneous part 43 can have the form of a distance piece which assures that the subcutaneous part 43 is pushed down into the opening of the base 44 with such a force that the subcutaneous part 43 can get past or get in contact with the locking mechanism inside the opening of the base 44. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the means 61 for releasing comprise a flat spring placed between the lower surface of the insertion part 50 and the upper surface of the subcutaneous part 43. The flat spring is attached to or is a part of the insertion at one end. As the insertion part 50 is pushed down towards the base 44 by the insertion spring 49, the flat spring 61 will be loaded when the insertion part 50 gets close enough to the base 44. The flat spring 61 will then exercise a pressure on the subcutaneous part 43 which will provide that the subcutaneous part 43 is locked inside the opening of the base 44.

At the state displayed in FIG. 5, the retraction part 46 is still attached to the insertion part 50 by the two inward hooks 54—also called snap legs—at the lower end of the retraction part 46 but the inward hooks 54 are in this almost fully forwarded position in contact with two outward surfaces 64. When the inclined surface of each inward hooks 54 touches the inclined outward surface 64, the inward hooks 54 will be forced outwards as the inward hooks 54 are flexibly attached to the body of the retraction part 46 (at least the arms to which the inward hooks 54 are attached are more flexible than the protruding parts providing the outward surfaces 64) and the inward hooks 54 will be released from the downward surface 59 of the insertion part 50. Thus, the inward hooks 54 are no longer in direct contact with the downward surface 59 of the insertion part 50.

FIG. 6 shows a cut-through view along line A-A of the same embodiment as shown in FIG. 1-5. The cut-through view along line A-A in FIG. 6 is from the same angle as the cut-through view in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, however in FIG. 6, the device is shown in a state where a subcutaneous part 43 has been inserted and the introducer needle 47 has been fully retracted. The introducer needle 47 is at this state hidden inside the housing 1 and the retraction spring 48 continues to put a slight pressure on the retraction part 46 which prevents the introducer needle 49 from falling out through the openings in the insertion part 50 and in the internal base 52.

In the state displayed in FIG. 6, the retraction part 46 is pushed to a retracted position by the retraction spring 48. Walls of the inner lid 45 extending from the upper inner surface and downwards in the insertion direction ensures that the movement of the retraction part 46 is properly guided and that the retraction part 46 moves along a straight line coinciding with the insertion direction. The insertion part 50 is in a fully forward position where the elastic unit 63 pushes against the subcutaneous part 43. The base 44 has been released from the internal base 52 and when the inserter device is removed from the site of insertion, the base 44 will remain on the patient's skin as nothing is any longer connecting the base 44 to the insertion device.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an internal base 52 which can be used with the embodiments of the inserter device shown in FIG. 1-6. The internal base 52 is seen mainly from the lower side i.e. the side which comes into contact with the patient's skin. Normally, the base 44 is mounted in the dome-shaped receiving portion and the lower surface of the base 44 will be covered by an adhesive e.g. in the form of an adhesive surface of a mounting pad 67. The receiving portion of the internal base 52 has a central opening through which a subcutaneous part 43 can be moved to the insertion site.

It is desirable that the base 44 is somehow releasably attached to the internal base 52 of the inserter device independently of whether the base 44 is a port site or another type of medical equipment, which is to be attached to the patient's skin by the inserter device. In the embodiment of FIG. 7 this releasable attachment is provided by snap legs 65 of the internal base 52 which fit into a groove 66 in the base 44.

The outward hooks 64 of the internal base 52 is placed in openings displaced around 30° relative to the snap legs 65 but could be at any angle relative to the snap legs as long as there is enough space around each part to allow all functionalities.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a base 44 in the form of a port site which can be used with the embodiment of the inserter device shown in FIG. 1-6. The subcutaneous part 43 is inserted in/through a central opening in the base 44. The body of the base 44, which is normally made of molded plastic, is provided with a groove 66 encircling the central opening. The groove 66 provides an edge corresponding to snap legs 65 of the internal base 52 of the inserter device; such an arrangement can assure that the medical device is released from the internal base 52 at a desired point of insertion.

FIG. 9 illustrates second embodiment of a medical device being an inserter device. This inserter device functions in the same way as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 but it is directed to the insertion of another kind of medical device. That the inserter device is intended to be used with another medical device results in changes in the lid 12 and the internal base 52.

The lid 12 shown in FIG. 9 is larger than the lid 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2, where “larger” indicates that the lid 12 constitutes a larger internal volume. This is advantageous if—as illustrated in FIG. 9—the medical device is an infusion site. During use, an infusion site will often be connected to a medication reservoir and it is thus necessary to provide the user/patient with some extra equipment in the form a tube provided with a connector. This extra equipment can beneficially be stored in the large lid 12 under sterile conditions.

The receiving portion at the lower or open end of the internal base 52 has a different shape in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 compared to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. This is caused by the fact that it is desirable to have a receiving portion which fits closely to the upper surface of the medical device. Also the release means, which cause the medical device to be released automatically during insertion of the subcutaneous part, might need to be adapted to the individual medical device.

All other units used to construct the inserter device are exactly the same as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1-6. The same reference numbers are used in FIG. 9 as for the similar parts in FIG. 1-6.

FIG. 10 shows the inserter device of FIG. 9 in a first state i.e. a before-use-state where the tamperproof band 53 has not yet been removed, in a second state where the tamperproof band 53 has been removed and the device is ready to be used, and in a third state where the lid 12 has been removed and the inserter device is ready to be placed against the skin of the patient.

FIG. 11 show an embodiment of an infusion site, which can be positioned with the inserter of FIG. 9. The base 44 comprises a single body which is normally moulded of a plastic material. During use this single body will be mounted on a mounting pad 67 which ensures that the base 44 stays positioned on the patient's skin. The mounting pad 67 can e.g. comprise a double adhesive pad where both the upper and the lower surface of the pad are adhesive. The upper surface of the mounting pad 67 is the surface facing the base 44 and the lower surface of the mounting pad 67 is the surface facing the patient's skin. Alternatively, the mounting pad 67 can comprise a pad having a non-adhesive upper surface and an adhesive lower surface. Whether the mounting pad 67 (also called mounting surface) comprises a double adhesive or a single sided adhesive, the mounting pad 67 normally comprises a patch of weaved or non-weaved material and is adapted to be releasably attached to the patient's skin during use e.g. by an adhesive surface facing the skin. The body of the base 44 can e.g. be made from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or another relatively hard and mouldable or otherwise formable material.

FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of all the parts of the embodiment of FIG. 9. The number of units is the same in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 as well as the units are joined in a similar way as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, although two of the units i.e. the internal base 52 and the lid 12 are differently constructed as described previously.

Positioning Procedure for the Two Embodiments of the Medical Device being an Inserter Device Shown in FIG. 1-10:

When using the inserter device of FIG. 1-10 and positioning a subcutaneous part, the user has to perform the following 7 steps:

-   -   1. Remove the tamperproof band 53     -   2. Remove the lid 12 from the housing 1 and expose the adhesive         surface of the port site     -   3. Place the open end of the housing against the skin of the         patient (the adhesive surface of the port site is adhered to the         patient's skin during this step)     -   4. Push the housing towards the skin of the patient until it         cannot be pushed further     -   5. Activate the actuator means by pushing at the indicated         positions 56 to such a degree that the soft material in the         housing is collapsing     -   6. Remove the inserter device from the patient's skin, e.g.         re-position the lid 12 at the open end of the housing     -   7. Dispose of the used inserter device with or without the lid         12

FIGS. 13-19 illustrate yet another embodiment of a medical device being an inserter device. This third embodiment is similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, and parts similar to parts of the first and second embodiments are illustrated with the same reference numbers as used when describing these two former embodiments. The needle hub 5, the primary spring 6, and the release means 41 for the needle hub 5 are similar to the corresponding parts of the first embodiment. The embodiment of FIG. 15-19 has manual insertion and automatic retraction of the insertion needle. This embodiment comprises five separate pieces, excluding a subcutaneous part 43 and a base part 44, and all of the pieces are normally made of moulded plastic except the primary spring 6, which is e.g. made of a soft and elastic material such as a rubber band, and e.g. the insertion needle 4, which might be made of metal.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of the inserter device in a shelf state which is an unloaded and sterile state. The primary spring 6 (see FIG. 19) is constituted by a single circular elastic band and is attached to the top of the cover 2 corresponding to the internal base of the embodiment of FIG. 1-12. The primary spring 6 supports under the needle hub 5 corresponding to the retraction part 46 of the embodiment of FIG. 1-12, i.e. the primary spring 6 pulls the needle hub 5 and the top of cover 2 together. The needle hub 5 of this embodiment is constructed with a circular top plate 38 (best seen in FIG. 19) having a diameter small enough to allow the needle hub 5 to slide up and down inside the cylindrical cover 2. The circular top plate 38 has openings 39 allowing for the elastic band constituting the primary spring 6 to pass from the lower side of the needle hub 5 to the top of the cover 2 without by its presence disturbing the sliding movement of the needle hub 5 relative to the cover 2. The elastic band 6 can be attached to the top of the cover 2 by winding it around a protruding part of the edge 42; this can be done due to the flexibility of the elastic band 6. The circular top plate 38 is also provided with two openings and a flexible loading arm 40 provided with an inward hook extending through each opening. The inserter device of FIG. 13 is provided with a lid 12, which assures sterile conditions for the internal parts of the inserter device before opening. According to the embodiment of FIG. 13-19, the lid 12 constitutes a volume large enough to contain a tube and appurtenant tube parts such as connector for infusion set.

FIG. 14 shows the inserter device in a side view in a pre-loading step. The inside of the inserter device, which was previously protected by the tightly combined housing 1 and lid 12, is during the pre-loading step subjected to the surrounding atmosphere. Corresponding threads on the bottom lid 12 and housing 1 lifts the housing 1 when the user twists the two parts in opposite directions. The cover 2—or internal base—is held in place by reverse direction threads between the cover 2 and the bottom lid 12. Thus, the cover 2 does not move relative to the bottom lid 12 when the housing 1 is twisted relative to the bottom lid 12. When the housing 1 is twisted e.g. around 90 degrees, the housing 1 is forced away from the cover 2 and released from the bottom lid 12. In the pre-loaded state the inserter device is ready to use.

Both FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show cut-through views of the inserter device in the preloaded state of FIG. 14; FIG. 15 shows a cut-through view along the line H-H of FIG. 14 and FIG. 16 shows a cut-through view along the line Q-Q in FIG. 16. The housing 1 has been released from the lid 12 and the lid 12 has been removed. The preloading causes inward hooks of the two flexible loading arms 40 to move to the upper side of the circular top plate 38 of the needle hub 5, and due to the flexibility of the loading arms 40 the hooks are caught on top of the needle hub 5. When the device has been put into this state, the device is ready for insertion when the lid 12 has been removed from the device. Normally removal of the lid 12 will lead to that a protective layer such as a release layer is removed from the adhesive side of the medical device placed in the position 3 for the infusion site.

The housing 1 and the cover 2 have means preventing that they separate from each other. In the shown embodiment, these means has the form of a snap connection comprising an inward protruding part 68 near the lower edge of the housing 1 and an outward protruding part 69 near the top edge of the cover 2. This snap lock will prevent that the housing 1 from being disconnected from the cover 2.

FIG. 17 shows the embodiment of the inserter device in a loaded state where the primary spring is as extended as it will be during operation of the inserter device and the insertion needle 4 is fully inserted. Normally a distinct click-sound will indicate that the subcutaneous part is locked to the base and that the user can let go of the pressure keeping the needle hub 5 down. The primary spring 6 which is attached to the top of the cover 2 has been stretched to its maximum as the needle hub 5, which the elastic band is placed under, is at its lowest position. In this position, the release means 41 get in contact with the flexible loading arms 40 and pushes the loading arms 40 outward i.e. away from each other. This movement causes the needle hub 5 to be released from the hooks of the loading arms 40, which result in the needle hub 5 being pulled upwards to the top of the cover 2 where the opposite ends of the circular elastic band are fastened. At this position the cover 2 is locked to the housing 1.

FIG. 18 shows a cut-through view along the line O-O where the embodiment of the inserter device is in a final unloaded state. In this state, the needle hub 5 and thereby the insertion needle 4 has been brought into a retracted position. In this retracted position, the used insertion needle 4 cannot get into contact with the surroundings because the inserter device comprises locking means locking the cover 2 is to the housing 1. According to the shown embodiment, the locking means comprises a mechanical snap lock where an inward protruding part of the cover 70 slides over a locking part 71 of the housing 1. The state is similar to the unloaded state shown in FIG. 13 except that the two part infusion device comprising the subcutaneous part 43 and the base 44 is now assembled and the subcutaneous part 43 is inserted into the base 44.

FIG. 19 shows a possible position of a primary spring 6 in the form of an elastic band such as a rubber band used with the embodiment of the inserter device. The elastic band is attached to the top of the cover 2 by wrapping parts of the elastic band around protruding parts 42 extending outward from the upper edge of the cover 2. The central plate being encompassed by the wall of the cover 2 is a circular top plate 38 of the needle hub 5 and the elastic band passes through openings 39 provided in the top of the needle hub 5 which openings are large enough to prevent the elastic band from interfering to interfere with the movement of the needle hub 5 relative to the cover 2.

FIG. 20 shows a medical device comprising a subcutaneous part 43 and an infusion site 44. The subcutaneous part 43 comprises a part, which is to be inserted subcutaneously in the patient. The subcutaneous part 43 is preloaded onto the insertion needle 4 and the infusion site 44 is attached to the cover 2 inside the position 3 for the infusion site. The inserter device might also be used for insertion of other medical devices comprising a subcutaneous part whether such a device would be in one or more pieces, and then the position 3 for the infusion site would have to be adapted to the medical device in question.

Positioning Procedure for the Embodiment Shown in FIG. 12-19:

When using the inserter device of FIG. 12-19 and positioning a subcutaneous part, the user has to perform the following 7 steps:

-   -   1. E.g. remove tamperproof packing     -   2. Release the housing 1 from the lid 12 and loading the device         by holding on to the lid 12 and twisting the housing 1     -   3. Remove the lid 12. E.g. the release paper situated on the         mounting pad of the medical device is attached to the lid. When         the release paper is removed together with the lid, the adhesive         surface of the medical device will be exposed and ready to         position on the patient     -   4. Position the end of the cover containing the medical device         on the patient's skin     -   5. Press the housing 1 against the skin until a click sounds     -   6. Remove the inserter device from the patient's skin, e.g.         re-position the lid 12 at the open end of the housing     -   7. Dispose of the used inserter device with or without the lid         12.

FIGS. 21-25 illustrate a fourth embodiment of a medical device constituted by a site 101 and a connector part 102. The site 101, which is stationary during use and attached to a patients skin, comprises:

-   -   a subcutaneous part;     -   positioning means 105 configured to correspond to positioning         parts 107 on the connector part 102 to provide a user-chosen         locked positioning, i.e. fixed positioning, of the connector         part 102 relative to the site 101 in a horizontal or rotational         direction during use; and     -   attachment means 104 configured to correspond to retaining means         114 on the connector part 102 to provide a stationary i.e. fixed         positioning of the connector part 102 relative to the site 101         in a vertical direction during use.

The connector part 102, which can be attached to and detached from the site 101 after mounting the site 101 on the patients skin, comprises:

-   -   horizontal or rotational positioning parts 107;     -   vertical attachment parts 114;     -   actuating means 115 which when actuated release the connector         part 102 from the site 101; and     -   a cover constituting at least a part of the outer surface         wherein the cover of the connector part 102 is constructed of         materials having different or varying flexibility i.e. the         material(s) constituting the cover is more flexible in some         areas than in other areas.

“Flexibility” defines according to the present application an ability to bend or to curve or to having a dimension of a material reduced in another way than by bending or curving e.g. by being squeezed to a higher density, and a subsequent ability to return to the original shape.

That a material is “hard” means that the material does not change its shape during normal use unless in certain flexible areas where the hard material is shaped in such a way that e.g. provided with relatively thin or narrow areas, the material will act flexible.

In more detail, the fourth embodiment of a medical device shown in FIGS. 21A-E comprises a site 101 in the form of an infusion site which can be combined with a subcutaneous part 108 as illustrated in FIGS. 24A-B. The site 101 as shown in FIGS. 21A-E comprises a single part, which is normally moulded of a plastic material. During use this single part will be mounted on a mounting pad which provides for the site 101 to stay positioned on the patient's skin. The not shown mounting pad can e.g. comprise a double adhesive pad where both the upper and the lower surface of the pad are adhesive. The upper surface of the mounting pad is the surface facing the site 101 and the lower surface of the mounting pad is the surface facing the patient's skin. In this case the mounting pad is placed on the patients skin before or during positioning of the site 101 on the patients skin and the site 101 is attached to the upper surface of the mounting pad either before or after the mounting pad has been placed on the patients skin. Alternatively, the mounting pad can comprise a pad having a non-adhesive upper surface and an adhesive lower surface. Whether the mounting pad (also called mounting surface) comprises a double adhesive or a single sided adhesive, the mounting pad normally comprises a patch of weaved or non-weaved material and is adapted to be releasably attached to the patient's skin during use e.g. by an adhesive surface facing the skin. The site 101 can e.g. be made from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or another relatively hard and mouldable or otherwise formable material.

FIG. 21A shows the site 101 seen from the lower side i.e. the side which is facing the patient's skin during use. In FIG. 21A an area is marked with a grey colour. This is the part of the site which is in direct contact with (i.e. touches) the mounting pad during use. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 21A this area comprises a central circular part 121 having a central opening 122 through which the subcutaneous part 108 can be inserted. The area also has peripheral protrusions 123—five peripheral protrusions 123 according to this embodiment—connecting the central circular part 121 to a peripheral circular part 124. From this side it is also possible to see the attachment means 104 for the connector part in the form of an inwardly i.e. towards the centre protruding edge. As the central circular part 121 is connected to the peripheral circular part 124 through two or more peripheral protrusions 123, the construction is very flexible and it is less likely that a force applied to the connector part 102, which during use is fastened to the peripheral circular part 124, is passed to the central circular part 121 holding the subcutaneous part 108.

FIG. 21B shows the site 101 seen from the upper side i.e. the side of the device facing in a direction opposite the patient's skin. From this side it is possible to see the circular or ring-shaped part 110, which is attached to or placed on top of the peripheral circular part 124, and the central part 111, which is attached to or placed on top of the central circular part 121 and which further is adapted to hold the subcutaneous part 108 during use.

The site 101 comprises positioning means 105 corresponding to positioning means 107 on a connector part 102. According to the fourth embodiment of the medical device shown in FIGS. 21A-E, the positioning means 105 are part of the circular part 110 and are placed along or are a part of the periphery of the circular part 110. The shown embodiment comprises ten positioning means 105 having the form of recesses in the outer surface of the circular part 110. The positioning means 105 are referred to as recesses compared to the outer circumference of the peripheral circular part 124. Generally, the positioning means 105 comprises two or more recesses that can be combined with protruding parts 107 of a corresponding connector part 102. Further, the positioning means 105 are provided in a hard part of the infusion site 101, where the hard parts of the site are e.g. the circular part 110 or e.g. the central part 111.

The central part 111 comprises an opening 112 or cavity, adapted to accommodate at least a portion of a subcutaneous part 108, essentially the portion of the subcutaneous part 108 which is not inserted or to be inserted in the patient's skin. According to this embodiment, the opening 112 comprises attachment means 125 for the subcutaneous part 108 adapted to provide a non-releasable connection between the site 101 and the subcutaneous part 108 during use. The subcutaneous part 108 comprises corresponding means for attachment to the opening 112. According to this fourth embodiment, the attachment means 125 have the form of four parts protruding from each their position of the inner upright wall of the central part 111. The attachment means 125 are compliant, which means that the attachment means 125 are either made of an elastic material or at least part (or all) of the attachments means 125 can be moved outwards due to a flexibility of the construction of the attachment means 125. Here “elastic” means that the dimensions of the material can be reduced when a pressure is applied to the material and afterwards the material return to the original size and position for all practical means. In both cases the diameter of the internal opening in the central part 111 can be varied as a result of pressure applied in a radial outward direction toward the inner surface of the upright central part 111.

The circular part 110 with the positioning means 105 is shaped like a symmetric toothed wheel having ten teeth with rounded off recesses provided in between the teeth. Each recess has identical dimensions, and a given area comprising both an opening and a surrounding part of a protruding area fits closely to a corresponding area on the proximal side of the connector part 102. The corresponding means 107 for positioning of the connector part 102 are adapted to fit into one or more of the openings of the positioning means 105, whereby ten distinct and different relative positions of the connector part 102 in correspondence to the site 101 are possible. The toothed wheel will normally have 3-20 openings, thereby providing 3-20 different positions of the connector part 102 relative to the site 101. The openings of the toothed wheel might have a less rounded shape comprising straighter edges, such as triangular or rectangular openings. Accordingly, the means for positioning 107 will have a corresponding shape, such as a triangular or rectangular shape, respectively.

FIG. 21C shows the site from a cut-through view along the line A-A of FIG. 21A. FIG. 21D shows a side view of the device. FIG. 21E shows an upper view of the site i.e. the side turned away from the patient's skin during use.

FIGS. 22A-E show an embodiment of a connector part 102 that can be used together with the infusion site 44 of FIG. 11 and FIGS. 21A-E. The embodiment of FIG. 11 corresponds to the embodiment of an infusion site shown in FIG. 1 in European patent application no. 0964041 and the description of this embodiment is hereby incorporated by reference. More specifically, FIG. 22A shows the connector part 102 seen from the tube side, i.e. the side to which a tube element will be connected to the device during use. FIG. 22B shows the connector part 102 from the lower side i.e. the side which is covered by the mounting pad during use. From this position it can be seen how the arms 115 can be elastically hinged to the central part of the attachment means 106. FIG. 22C also shows the connector part 102 from the lower side but in an inclined angle which makes it possible to see how the retaining means 114 are provided with an upward facing surface. FIG. 22D shows the connector part seen from above from the side opposite the tube connection. From this angle it is possible to see that only one continuous area of soft flexible/elastic material 113 a is provided with this embodiment. FIG. 22E shows the connector part 102 seen from the side where the connector needle 126 opens out is to the right.

The connector part 102 shown in FIGS. 22A-E comprises an outer shell having an inner cavity and is adapted to encompass the site 101 of FIGS. 21A-E. The outer shell of the embodiment of FIGS. 22A-E is not exclusively made of a hard material. The outer shell of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 22A-E provides a rounded and continuous surface and is a composite of one or more parts of hard material combined with one or more areas of a soft and/or elastic material. The areas of soft material are referred to as 113 a and the areas of hard material are referred to as 113 b in FIGS. 22A-E.

According to an embodiment, the connector part 102 can be moulded in ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) where the ABS part provides as a hard shell or skeleton including snap legs 114, 115 and knobs i.e. positioning means 107 that can secure the connector in one of the ten possible positions. According to this embodiment, the TPE i.e. the soft material is just covering the gab that makes it possible to flex i.e. push the arms 115 together. This leaves the highest point in the connector free of TPE which can be advantages as the ABS parts has a lower coefficient of friction which means that e.g. clothes does not as easily cling to the set.

The attachment means 106 of the embodiment of FIGS. 22A-E do not need to be elastic, as the elasticity needed to bring the arms 115 back to the point of departure can be provided by a soft and elastic material positioned in between the areas of the arms 115 and the central part of hard material, i.e. the central part to which the connector needle 126 is fastened. Normally the soft material 113 a is simply flexible and not elastic, i.e. it does not have the ability to provide the force to push the arms 115 back to the original position. The force for returning the arms 115 to the original position is then provided by the elasticity of the attachments means 106 comprising both the arms 115 and the central part providing fastening positions for the connector needle 126 and for each of the arms 115. The arms 115 are provided with retaining means 114 in the form of outward hooks 114 having upward surfaces which upward surfaces during interlocking with the site 101 rest against the downward surface of the attachment means 104 of the site 101. The interlocking of the connector part 102 and the site 101 is released when the arms 115 are simultaneously are pushed toward the centre i.e. inwards.

When activating the attachment means 106, the connector part 102 can be attached to or detached from the site 101. Activating the attachment means 106 also makes it possible to place the interacting means for positioning 107 of the connector part 102 relative to the positioning means 105 of the site 101 in a distinct user-defined position. According to the shown embodiment the user can choose any desired position out of the ten possible.

The means for attachment 106 of the connector part 102 comprise actuating means in the form of arms 115, retaining elements in the form of outward hooks 114, and an elastic element 116, wherein the elasticity is the result of the chosen material and the constructions, especially the diameter of the material in the area where the arms 115 are joined to the central part 117. The actuating means 115 comprises two arms positioned diametrically opposite each other and each arm is provided with an outward hook constituting a retaining element 114. Each hook has a portion which upon release is caught under the protruding upper edge of the circular part 110 and prevents the connector part 102 from moving away in a vertical direction. The two arms 115 of the actuating means form part of the outer shell of the connector part 102 and will normally be provided with a section having an increased diameter or cross-section or an otherwise marked area which will make it possible for the user to feel exactly where to push in order to release/attach the connector part 102 from the site 101. The elastic element 116 connects the two arms by one end of each arm. When the two arms 115 forming the actuating means are pressed towards each other, the elastic element will provide a spring action trying to return the arms 115 to their original relaxed position i.e. the starting point. The three elements: actuating means 115, retaining elements 114 and elastic element 116 can be moulded as a single element.

FIGS. 23A-E show a fifth embodiment of a connector part 102 that can be used together with the sites 101 of FIGS. 21A-21E. Functionally the connector part 102 of FIGS. 23A-E is very similar to the connector part 102 illustrated in FIGS. 22A-E, and functionally identical parts of FIGS. 23A-E are provided with the same reference numbers as the parts of FIGS. 22A-E.

More specifically, FIG. 23A shows the fifth embodiment of the connector part 102 from the lower side i.e. the side which is covered by the mounting pad during use. The flexible outer shell 113 a is provided with a grey colour in order to make it easier to differentiate between the outer shell 113 a and the inner attachment means 106 which are kept in white colour. On the outer shell 113 a, the touch point on the free end of each arm 115 is marked by three protruding points on opposite sides of the outer shell, thereby indicating to the user where to provide a pressure in order to attach or release the connector part from the site 101. FIG. 23B shows the connector part 102 seen from the tube side, i.e. the side to which the tube element 118 is normally connected to the device during use. FIG. 23C shows the connector part 102 seen from the side where the connector needle 126 opens out is to the left. FIG. 23D shows the connector part 102 seen from above from the side opposite the tube connection. From this angle it is possible to see that the whole outer surface is covered with a continuous layer of material only interrupted by the protruding parts indication where the user has to put pressure on in order to release the connector part from the site. FIG. 23E shows the connector part 102 from the lower side but in an inclined angle which makes it possible to the how the retaining means 114 are provided with an upward facing surface.

The connector part 102 shown in FIGS. 23A-E comprises a smooth outer shell 113 a made of a flexible material and having an inner cavity adapted to encompass the site 101 of FIGS. 21A-E. Further, the outer shell 113 a of flexible material can encompass attachment means 106 comprising arms 115 provided with retaining means 114 of same type as shown and described in connection with FIGS. 22A-E, a central piece which supports the connector needle 126, and an elastic element 116. If the attachment means 106 consist of a single piece of moulded plastic material, the elastic element 116 can be provided by a reduced material thickness at the position where each arm 115 is connected to the central piece of the attachment means 106. The elastic element can e.g. be made of ABS.

The fully covering outer shell of flexible material 113 a provides a smooth surface without protruding parts that can get caught e.g. in passing clothes and the smooth surface therefore reduce the risk of having the site 101 and the attached subcutaneous part pulled out before it is desired. The soft material completely covering the surface might be made of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer). When the soft material covers the complete surface, the soft material has a larger area where it can displace i.e. fold when the connector is flexed i.e. the arms 115 are pushed together. This embodiment also results in a very simple and smooth look which leaves many possibilities for eye-catching design.

FIGS. 24A-B shows respectively a cut-through view through the centre and a side view of an embodiment of cannula part 108 which can be used together with any of the infusion sites 44, 101 illustrated in the figures. The cannula part 108 comprises a body part 129 having a through going opening allowing passage of fluid. In order to prevent access of micro organisms from the surroundings after mounting of the cannula part 108, the through going opening at the inlet end is closed with a septum 109, which allows access of 1) needles such as insertion needles providing subcutaneous positioning of the device, 2) injection needles delivering a single portion of fluid, or 3) a connector needle 129 as illustrated in the embodiments of the connector part 102. The septum 109 will normally be a self closing septum, i.e. when a needle has been inserted through the septum 109 and afterwards removed, the septum 109 will close and prevent access of micro organisms.

A catheter or cannula 108 a extends from the outlet end of the body part 129, where the catheter might be either soft/flexible, which means that is has to be inserted with an insertion needle, or it might be a hard and self-penetrating catheter. The catheter 108 a normally extends 8-10 mm from the lower surface of the body part 129 and reaches the bloodstream of the patient. The catheter 108 a is attached inside the through going opening of the body part 129, and according to the shown embodiment, the catheter 108 a is attached to the body part 129 by having a bushing 127 pushed into the upper open end thereby squeezing the walls of the upper end of the catheter 108 a against the inner walls of the through going opening.

The bushing 127 is constituted by a tubular piece which is open for fluid in both ends, i.e. a fluid path is formed through the bushing 127. According to the shown embodiment, the bushing 127 comprises a tube part formed as a truncated cone having a decreasing diameter extended into or in contact with a cylindrical tube part. According to one embodiment, the bushing 127 is normally formed of a material e.g. steel which cannot be penetrated by an insertion needle. This feature makes it possible to operate the site 101 as a port i.e. to insert and inject fluid, e.g. by a syringe through the septum 109, without having to worry about the walls of the body part 129 or the catheter 108 a being penetrated and thereby destroyed by the needle.

The outer surface of the body part 129 is normally round having varying diameter from the inlet end, i.e. where the septum 109 covers the opening, to the outlet end wherefrom the catheter 108 a extends. The varying diameter provides horizontal 131 and inclined surfaces 130, where at least one of the horizontal surfaces 131 can provide a contact surface for attachment means 125 of the site 101. “Horizontal” in this connection means that the surface is parallel to the skin surface of the patient at or around the position where the subcutaneous part is inserted. The inclined surfaces 130 support the positioning procedure when a subcutaneous part 108, 108 a is injected into the correct position. Alternatively, inclined surfaces, such as the lowest part of the body 129 of the subcutaneous part 108 corresponding to inclined surfaces of the lowest part of the opening 112 in the site, can also be used to provide fastening to the site 101, as the inclined surfaces of the subcutaneous part 108, 108 a can be constructed to fit closely into the opening of the site 101 in such a way that friction between the two parts locks the subcutaneous part in the site 101. Yet an alternative way of attaching the subcutaneous part 108, 108 a to the site 101 is to place adhesive on one or more corresponding surfaces respectively on the subcutaneous part 108, 108 a or on the site 101.

FIG. 25A shows a side view of a connector needle 26 which can be used together with the embodiment of the connector part 2 shown in FIGS. 22A-E and 23A-E, and FIG. 25B shows a cut-through view of a site 1 on which a connector part 2 as shown in FIGS. 22A-E is mounted.

The embodiment of the connector needle 126 shown in FIG. 25A is made of a hard material such as steel or another material with similar mechanical properties and should be able to penetrate the septum 109 of the cannula part 108 and extend into the open space formed in the through going opening of the body part 129 of the cannula part 108. According to the shown embodiment this open part is formed in the upper truncated cone shape of the bushing 127. The connector needle 126 can be formed of a single steel needle bended in the areas 126 f, 126 d, and 126 b as illustrated in the figure combined with the straight pieces 126 g which comprises the inlet end, 126 e, 126 c and 126 a, where 126 a comprise the outlet end. The inlet end of the connector needle 126 (open end of piece 126 g) might be pointed or blunt depending on how the connecting tube is constructed and the outlet end (the open end of the piece 126 a) could also be either pointed or blunt depending on what it takes to penetrate the septum 109.

FIG. 25B shows a cut-through view of a site of the type shown in FIGS. 21A-E combined with a connector part 102 of the type shown in FIGS. 22A-E. A tube has not been joined to the inlet end 126 g of the connector needle 126 although this will normally be the case during use. The body part 129 of the cannula part 108 is locked in the shown position due to the protruding attachments means 125 which lower surface, i.e. the contact surface 128, rests against the upward facing locking surface 131 of the body part 129. A locking surface 131 formed by a horizontal contact surface extends as an unbroken circle around the periphery of the body part 129 and therefore a part of the locking surface 131 will always be positioned in front of or opposite each of the attachment means 125.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   1 housing -   1 a sections of a soft material such as TPE -   1 b sections of a hard material such as ABS -   2 cover -   3 position for infusion site -   4 insertion needle -   5 needle hub -   6 primary spring -   12 lid -   36 subcutaneous part of the third embodiment -   37 base part/infusion site of the third embodiment -   38 circular top plate of the third embodiment -   39 opening in the circular top plate of the third embodiment -   40 flexible loading arm of the third embodiment -   41 release means of the third embodiment -   42 protruding part of the edge -   43 subcutaneous part -   44 base part/infusion site -   45 inner lid -   46 retraction part -   47 introducer needle -   48 retraction spring -   49 insertion spring -   50 insertion part -   51 release part -   52 internal base -   53 tamperproof band -   54 inward hook of retraction part -   55 protruding part on the inner surface of the housing -   56 position indicators for activation -   57 push position on release part -   58 protruding part of the release part -   59 downward facing contact surface of the insertion part -   60 groove in the outer surface of the insertion part -   61 means for releasing the subcutaneous part -   62 plastic spring -   63 elastic unit -   64 outward surface of internal base -   65 snap leg of internal surface -   66 groove in base -   67 mounting pad -   68 inward protruding part of the housing -   69 outward protruding part of the cover -   70 inward protruding part of the cover -   71 locking part of the housing -   101 site of a medical device -   102 connector part -   103 mounting pad -   104 attachment means on the site -   105 positioning means on the site -   106 attachment means of the connector part -   107 positioning parts on the connector part -   108 subcutaneous part -   108 a catheter or cannula -   109 septum -   110 circular or ring-shaped part on the site -   111 central part on the site -   112 opening on the site -   113 a areas of soft material such as TPE -   113 b areas of hard material such as ABS -   114 retaining means on the connector part -   115 actuating means on the connector part -   116 elastic element on the connector part -   117 central part on the connector part -   118 tube element -   121 central circular part on the site -   122 central opening on the site -   123 peripheral protrusion on the site -   124 peripheral circular part on the site -   125 attachment means on the site -   126 connector needle -   126 a straight piece, outlet end -   126 b bended area -   126 c straight piece -   126 d bended area -   126 e straight piece -   126 f bended area -   126 g straight piece, inlet end -   127 bushing -   128 contact surface of the attachment means on the site -   129 body part of the subcutaneous part -   130 horizontal surface of the body part -   131 inclined surfaces/locking surface of the body part 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A medical device comprising: an outer part, where the outer part provides a functional cover, the outer part comprising an outer shell, an outer surface and one or more activation points on the outer surface; and an inner part configured to insert a subcutaneous part, the inner part being protected by the functional cover during use, the one or more activation points being connected to contact surfaces of the inner part in such a way that pressure on the one or more activation points initiates a function of the inner part to insert the subcutaneous part and the one or more activation points are positioned on a first section of the outer shell of the outer part comprising a hard material; a second section of the outer shell of the outer part comprising a hard material; and between the first section of hard material and the second section of hard material, the outer shell comprises a third section comprising a soft and flexible material, wherein the inner part comprises a first part and a second part, the first part is slidably attached to the second part and has at least one retracted and one forward position relative to the second part, and the inner part further comprises a first spring and a second spring.
 2. The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the outer part comprises a housing having a rounded and continuous surface without any openings providing access to inner functional parts, and the housing comprising two opposite side parts and two wedges of softer material.
 3. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sections of hard material comprises ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).
 4. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the third section of soft material comprises TPE (thermoplastic elastomer).
 5. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the hard material comprises a web or skeleton and the soft material is placed between a central part of hard material and a side part of hard material, wherein the side part is provided with the one or more activation points.
 6. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the inner part further comprises an inner lid, and wherein the first spring rests against a surface of the inner lid at a first end and at a second end the first spring rests against a surface of the second part in such a way that the first spring is in a loaded position when the first part is in the at least one retracted position and in an unloaded position when the first part is in the at least one forward position.
 7. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first spring is displaceable from the loaded position to the unloaded position by pressing the one or more activation point towards each other.
 8. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the inner part further comprises a third part slidably attached to the second part and the third part has at least one retracted and one forward position relative to the second part.
 9. The medical device according to claim 8, wherein the second spring rests against a surface of the third part at a first end and at a second end the second spring rests against a surface of the second part in such a way that the second spring is in a loaded position when the third part is in the at least one forward position and in an unloaded position when the third part is in the at least one retracted position.
 10. The medical device according to claim 9, wherein the second spring is automatically displaced from the loaded position to the unloaded position subsequent to the displacement of the first spring prompted by pressing the one or more activation points towards each other.
 11. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the medical device is an infusion device and the outer part comprises the outer shell of a connector part and the inner part comprises an infusion part comprising a subcutaneously positioned cannula or sensor during use.
 12. The medical device according to claim 11, wherein the outer part fully covers the infusion part when mounted on the infusion part. 